Tuesday, September 29, 2009

COMMENTS: The Dodgers need one win in their last five games, or one Colorado loss in its last six games, to clinch the NL West. 11 opportunities, and only one has to go the Dodgers' way. And this one won't be it.

No, not with Chad Billingsley on the mound, after his last performance which had a promising start (no ball left the infield until the fourth inning) turned into a disaster on one pitch (a game-tying Ryan Zimmerman three-run HR, leaving Bills with an ND). Not with Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake nursing sore hamstrings. Not with a closer who couldn't take advantage of a three-run lead gift-wrapped to him in the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon. Not with a team who lost three of four in PNC Park, putting them 3-4 on this roadtrip against the majors' worst. Not with a Padre pitcher making the first big-league start of his career.

Nope, it's not going to happen today. Might as well wait until tomorrow.

For anyone who has not read it yet, there is a great article at MSTI today. I was lucky enough to enjoy Paul Oberjurge as my local sports writer and as the father of a high school acquaintance. He is an ass who only writes about how bad Southern California sports teams are. I feel vindicated that someone has publicly called him out.

Not much to scoreboard watch at the moment, but the Jays are currently crapping on the Red Sox' clinching plans, scoring 4 in the 1st. But the Rangers will probably lose later and hand it to the Sox anyway.

Paulie said he bets me five bucks that Kemp has made more outs on the basepaths than any other player. I disproved his assumption, and because of that, I am entitled to my five dollars. He has my e-mail, he can reach me. There is no excuse.

It's funny that you busted me a bit for using the emoticon, because I only added it because of the aforementioned internet irony problem. I typed it out and it made me sound like I was dressing you down, not being an idiot.

We will win this game! I am sitting in the (closed) sports book at Whiskey Pete's in Primm NV. I am watching the game on the MLB game mix on a giant projector hearing the San Diego feed. If they don't win, what the hell am I doing? We will win!